WEBVTT AT THIS POIN40/29'S BRETT RAINS IS LIVEOUTSIDE THE STATE SUPREME COURTIN LITTLE ROCK WITH THE LATESTON THE LEGAL BATTLE.BRETT?REPORTER: IT WAS AROUND 4:00THIS AFTERNOON WHEN THE STATESUPREME COURT THAT HANDED DOWNTHESE TWO ORDERS THAT STOPPEDTONIGHTS EXECUTIONS FOR DEATHROW INMATES DON DAVIS AND BRUCEWARD.HAD THE STATE SUPREME COURT NOTISSUED THE STAYS, THEN THEINMATES WOULD HAVE BEEN EXECUTEDTONIGHT.THAT'S BECAUSE JUST MOMENTS AGOTHE 8TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALSRULED THAT ARKANSAS CAN MOVEFORWARD WITH THE SCHEDULEDEXECUTIONSTHE APPEALS COURT RULED THEDEATH ROW INMATES HAD AMPLE TIMETO APPEAL THEIR SENTENCESINSTEAD OF WAITING DAYS BEFORETHEIR EXECUTION DATES.THE COURT ALSO RULED THE STATECAN USE THE SEDATIVE MIDAZOLAMAS PART OF IT'S EXECUTION DRUGS,SAYING THERE'S NO PROOF TINMATES WOULD EXPERIENCE SEVPAIN.A SPOKESMAN FOR THE GOVERNORTELLS ME TODAYS RULING ARE NOTSURPRISING.>> IN DEATH PENALTY CASES THISIS PART OF THE PROCESS.WHILE THE GOVERNOR UNDERSTANDSIT IS PART OF THE PROCESS, HISHEART GOES OUT TO THE VICTIMSTHAT HAVE GO THROUGH ANINJUNCTION OR STAY IN THISSEEMINGLY NEVER-ENDING PROCESSFOR THEM.REPORTER WE HAVE ALSO LEARNEDTHAT RIGHT NOW, THE STATEATTORNEY GENERAL HAS SAID SHEWI APPEAL THE RULING FROM THE

Sorting out the legal challenges to Arkansas' executions

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Updated: 4:45 PM CDT Apr 20, 2017

There are several legal challenges and issues that are affecting Arkansas' plans to execute inmates this April. This list below briefly summarizes some of the most prominent issues:

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What it is: A lawsuit on behalf of nine inmates says Arkansas' use of the drug midazolam puts them at risk of cruel and unusual punishment.

Details: Midazolam is one of three drugs used in Arkansas' execution process. It is meant to sedate the inmate. The prisoners' attorneys say the drug is "risky" and "denies prisoners their right to be free from the risk of torture." The attorneys say midazolam is not a painkiller.

Current status: The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the prisoners on Monday, April 17th.

The vecuronium bromide lawsuit

What it is: The company that makes the drug vecuronium bromide asked Arkansas to return the drug.

Details: Vecuronium bromide is the second of the three drugs Arkansas plans to use in its execution process. Arkansas plans to use it to stop the inmate from breathing.

Drug distributor McKesson Medical-Surgical Inc. says vecuronium bromide is only supposed to be used for medical purposes. It says Arkansas misled the company when it bought the drug, and it wants the state to return 10 vials of the drug.

Current status: The Arkansas State Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state can use vecuronium bromide in its executions.

Stay for Stacey Johnson

What it is: The Arkansas Supreme Court blocked the execution of Stacey Johnson, who was scheduled to die on Thursday, April 20th.

Details: Stacey Johnson asked the Arkansas Supreme Court to allow him to seek new testing of evidence from his conviction in the 1993 death of Carol Heath.

Current status: The Arkansas Supreme Court has issued a stay on Johnson's execution. Rutledge has asked the court to reconsider.

Stays for Don Davis and Bruce Ward

What it is: The Arkansas Supreme Court blocked the executions of Don Davis and Bruce Ward, who were both scheduled to be put to death on Monday, April 17th.

Details: Attorneys for Davis and Ward say they weren't allowed access to independent mental health experts. They say Davis is intellectually disabled and Ward has a lifelong history of severe mental illness.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a case about independent mental health experts on April 24th. A favorable ruling in that case could potentially affect the cases of Davis and Ward. The men's attorneys want their executions postponed until after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision.

Current Status: The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Arkansas' request to lift a stay on the men's executions.

Bruce Ward's separate stay

What it is: The Arkansas Supreme Court stopped the execution of Bruce Ward, who had been scheduled to die Monday.

Details: Bruce Ward's attorneys say he is schizophrenic and has no rational understanding of his execution.

"Since learning that Defendant Hutchinson had scheduled his execution for April 17, 2017, Mr. Ward has remained steadfast in his belief that he will walk out of prison," they said in a filing.

Current Status: The Arkansas Supreme Court left its ruling in place Monday.

The McGehee commutation recommendation

What it is: The Arkansas Parole Board voted to recommend against executing Jason McGehee.

Details: The board voted to recommend clemency for McGehee on April 5th. A U.S. District Judge ruled the recommendation triggered a 30-day comment period before McGehee could be executed. That means the earliest McGehee could be put to death is May 5th.